In its third year, the U.S. Golf Association’s Play 9 Day is actually six days spread over six months. Not coincidentally, that is sometimes about how long it seems to take to finish 18 holes on the weekend.
Playing nine holes used to be the norm. It morphed into an afterthought at the height of golf’s popularity in the 1990s. The game’s recent struggles have brought it back for very basic reasons.
It is cheaper, takes much less time and is not nearly as intimidating or irritating.
The 24 million Americans who already golf can appreciate most of that. The 37 million the World and National Golf Foundations say are interested in “trying” the game appreciate all of it.
Most courses in Hawaii are now included in the USGA’s list of nine-hole options, which is part of usga.org’s updated section of PLAY9 content. And, nine-hole rounds are compatible with the handicapping system.
Rainbow Wahine golf coach Lori Castillo takes PLAY9 seriously enough that she founded a nine-hole fundraiser last year at Kaneohe Klipper. It was surprisingly successful, to say nothing of fun. Her “Nine and Dine” sequel is Nov. 14.
“What we were hearing last year is, ‘This is the best ever,’” Castillo recalls. “People were telling us nine holes and dinner is great. Don’t change the format.
“We aren’t going to change the format.”
Her initial idea was two-pronged.
A priority was to let every participant meet her team, which has four seniors this year.
“Face to face, each player on the team,” Castillo says. “I want them to know Lauren Kirkwood has a double major in pre-med and management and information systems. I want them to at least get to meet them, hit a shot or play a hole with them.
“The girls had to work out there last year. They know they are working for their cost-of-attendance money. They feel better if they have to work for it.”
Some players have class until 1:30 p.m. That made the usual 18-hole, noon scramble format, where golf often ends after 6 p.m., problematic.
So were weekends because courses charge more. Having a fundraiser outside golf’s long season caused NCAA complications.
Playing a quick nine, followed by a quicker dinner and prizes, with folks walking to their cars before dark, worked in ways she hadn’t even imagined.
That was the second prong.
“I knew for the first year I wanted the biggest participation possible,” the Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer said. “I wanted it to be nine holes because there’s not a big time factor. A lot of people can take the afternoon off and it turned out people that don’t really play golf were open to a nine-hole scramble format.
“Chunk of time is a big deal for people. I tried to think of my audience, what do they want? I didn’t want to make it like every other tournament out there. There are charity events every day in Hawaii. I wanted it to be different.”
She charges $500 for a four-person team — about half of what most benefits charge — and limits the field to 72. Everybody gets to see Klipper’s astonishing ocean views and her often anonymous golfers.
Her payoff was a bunch of players who suddenly felt extremely appreciated and $6,000 for her program, along with golfers anxious to come back.
“I’d like to make more, but I was happy,” Castillo said. “If I can do that every year then we are right on target.”
Beyond the common-sense reasons for a nine-dine-and-dash fundraiser, the three-time USGA national champion is also a big-time nine-hole proponent.
Castillo loves to see older people playing the nine-hole layout at Moanalua — Hawaii’s first golf course. Many walk, some carry their clubs or use pull carts. They get in and out in 3 hours, including lunch.
“It’s like when you wake up in the morning and go for a five-mile walk,” Castillo says. “It’s a good thing. It encourages people to walk and not say no with their time. You can do it in 90 minutes in the afternoon or the morning.”
Hawaii’s men’s team just announced that Olomana Golf Links will be its new home course and practice facility.
“We have history utilizing Olomana as a practice facility even before I started in 1998,” coach Ronn Miyashiro said. “I was re-introduced to the idea by Ed (Kageyama, Olomana’s Managing Partner) and he convinced me that he wanted to help out the program and really make us feel at home.”
It is holding to the 18-hole format in its fundraiser Dec. 2 at Hoakalei. The men will also host a May fundraiser at Amuse Wine Bar.
They close their fall season by hosting the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 on Kauai, and the Kaanapali Classic Collegiate Invitational, Nov. 4-6 on Maui.
